Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman has appointed Sharon Shalom to serve as Defense Ministry chief of staff, his office announced Monday. Shalom previously served as Liberman’s chief of staff in the Foreign Ministry, when Liberman served as Foreign Minister, between the years 2009-2015.

Liberman’s office wrote in a statement released Monday “[Sharon] was a senior partner in outlining and implementing the State of Israel’s diplomatic and foreign relations policy, and was responsible for the totality of issues relating to Israel’s foreign relations, including his being Minister Liberman’s senior representative in sensitive diplomatic talks and in [interior] relations with the Prime Minister’s Office.”

Shalom, 41, has also served in senior management positions in the private sector, notably in companies with an international presence. He also served in other public-sector roles. As an aid to the transportation minister between 2003-2004, he oversaw El Al’s privatization.

Liberman said that “Shalom is a man of many skills who has given much to the State of Israel in his various roles over the years, and has received high esteem from prime ministers and other senior officials for whom he worked, and he will have an important contribution as chief of staff in the Defense Ministry as well.”